Saturday, July 30, 2011

Dinner Time!

Dinner Menu~~
Tasty Tuna Casserole
Green Salad
Fresh Fruit

  • 4 Servings



  • Prep: 20 min. Bake: 25 min.


  • 20 25 45

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
    • 1 can (12 ounces) white water-packed solid tuna
    • 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
    • 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, cubed
    • 1 small onion, finely chopped
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

    Directions

    • Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Drain macaroni; stir into tuna mixture.
    • Transfer to a 2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cover and bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 4 servings.


    Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups equals 334 calories, 9 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 56 mg cholesterol, 851 mg sodium, 33 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 29 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 fat.
    Tasty Tuna Casserole published in Healthy Cooking August/September 2008, p52

    Friday, July 29, 2011

    Chief's Menu

    Breakfast~~
    Over Nigh Yeast Waffles-- Taste of Home

  • 10 Servings




  • Prep: 15 min. + chilling Cook: 5 min.



  • 15 5 20

    Ingredients

    • 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
    • 1/2 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • 2 cups warm milk (110° to 115°)
    • 1/2 cup butter, melted
    • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    Directions

    • In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the milk, butter and eggs; mix well. Combine flour and salt; stir into milk mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
    • Stir batter. For each waffle, pour by 1/4 cupfuls into a preheated waffle iron; bake according to manufacturer's directions until golden brown. Yield: 10 servings.


    Nutritional Analysis: 2 waffles equals 220 calories, 12 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 74 mg cholesterol, 366 mg sodium, 22 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 6 g protein.
    Overnight Yeast Waffles published in Light & Tasty April/May 2005, p12


    Dinner~~~
    BBQ Hamburgers
    Baked Chips
    Fresh Fruit

    My husband can grill a killer hamburger!!!!

    Thursday, July 28, 2011

    Whatcha got cookin?

    Breakfast~~~
    Egg n' Bacon Sandwiches-- Tast of Home

  • 2 Servings




  • Prep/Total Time: 5 min.



  • 5 5

    Ingredients

    • 2 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon fat-free milk
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
    • 2 slices Canadian bacon (1/2 ounce each)
    • 1 English muffin, split and toasted
    • 2 tablespoons shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

    Directions

    • In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Divide between two 10-oz. microwave-safe custard cups coated with cooking spray. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 20 seconds. Stir; microwave 20-25 seconds longer or until center of egg is almost set.
    • Place a slice of bacon on each muffin half; top with egg and sprinkle with cheese. Microwave, uncovered, for 10-13 seconds or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 20-30 seconds before serving. Yield: 2 servings.

    Editor's Note: This recipe was tested in a 1,100-watt microwave.
    Nutritional Analysis: 1 sandwich equals 179 calories, 8 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 223 mg cholesterol, 673 mg sodium, 14 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 12 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 lean meat.
    Egg 'n' Bacon Sandwiches published in Light & Tasty February/March 2006, p6

    Dinner~~~

  • 12 Servings




  • Prep: 10 min. Cook: 5-1/2 hours



  • 10 330 340

    Ingredients

    • 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • 3 tablespoons lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 cup frozen corn
    • 1 cup chunky salsa
    • 12 flour tortillas (6 inches), warmed
    • Sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese and shredded lettuce, optional

    Directions

    • Place the chicken in a 3-qt. slow cooker. Combine lime juice and chili powder; pour over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until chicken is tender.
    • Remove chicken; cool slightly. Shred meat with two forks and return to the slow cooker; heat through. Stir in corn and salsa.
    • Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes or until heated through. Serve in tortillas with sour cream, cheese and lettuce if desired. Yield: 12 tacos.


    Nutrition Facts: 1 taco (prepared with fat-free tortillas; calculated without sour cream and cheese) equals 148 calories, 2 g fat (trace saturated fat), 31 mg cholesterol, 338 mg sodium, 18 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 14 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1 starch.
    Lime Chicken Tacos published in Simple & Delicious November/December 2006, p12

    Wednesday, July 27, 2011

    Today's Menu

    Breakfast~~~
    Cheese Tomato Egg Bake
    English Muffins

    Cheese Tomato Egg Bake

  • 2 Servings




  • Prep: 10 min. Bake: 25 min.







  • 10 25 35    

    Ingredients

    • 3/4 cup egg substitute
    • 2 tablespoons ranch salad dressing
    • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 plum tomato, seeded and diced
    • 1 slice process American cheese

    Directions

    • In a large bowl, whisk the egg substitute, salad dressing and garlic powder. Spray the bottom of a 3-cup round baking dish with cooking spray. Pour half of the egg mixture into dish; top with tomato and cheese. Pour the remaining egg mixture on top.
    • Bake at 350° for 22-26 minutes or until completely set and a knife comes out clean. Yield: 2 servings.

    Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (prepared with reduced-fat dressing) equals 110 calories, 4 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 7 mg cholesterol, 442 mg sodium, 6 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 12 g protein.
    Cheese Tomato Egg Bake published in Cooking for 2 Fall 2008, p35

    Dinner~~~~
    Cheeseburger Spaghetti Pie
    Green Salad
    Fresh Fruit
    Cheeseburger Spaghetti Pie

    INGREDIENTS

    Crust
    6 oz. uncooked vermicelli or spaghetti
    1 egg
    1 tablespoon prepared mustard
    Filling
    1 lb. lean (at least 80%) ground beef  or ground turkey
    1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
    1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
    1/2 cup cooked real bacon pieces  or turkey bacon
    1 (15-oz.) can Italian-style tomato sauce
    4 oz. (1 cup) finely shredded Cheddar cheese  or use Weight watchers cheese
    9 dill pickle hamburger slices

    DIRECTIONS

    1 Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 9 1/2-inch deep-dish or 10-inch glass pie pan with nonstick cooking spray. Cook vermicelli as directed on package. Drain. 2 In large bowl, beat egg and mustard until blended. Add cooked vermicelli; toss to coat evenly. Spoon mixture into sprayed pie pan, pushing mixture up sides of pan to form crust. 3 In 10-inch nonstick skillet, break up ground beef; add onion and sprinkle with seasoned salt. Cook over medium-high heat until beef is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain. 4 Stir in bacon and tomato sauce. Spoon evenly into vermicelli-lined pie pan, pushing to edge almost covering vermicelli. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the cheese. 5 Bake at 350°F. for 30 minutes. Top with pickle slices; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
    Spaghetti pies are a fun way to serve combinations of pasta, sauce and meat. When the pie is cooked, the top of the spaghetti around the edge becomes crispy while the pasta underneath is soft and tender.

    **I am going to use whole wheat spaghetti for a power food for weight watchers and use 90% ground beef or ground turkey. I am going to use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon. I am using already shredded Weight Watchers cheese!

     

    Tuesday, July 26, 2011

    Exercising!!

    I know it doesn't sound like much, but when you haven't done ANYTHING for years this feels like a lot.  I rode our exercise bike for 5mins hard and did about 50 sit ups!!! I have to make myself get up and do something everyday!! I just wish my body was like it was when I was in high school and could run 6 plus miles a day without any problem.  Emily & I would love to get into the grove of running again, but it is to hot to do that now. As soon as it cools down that is on my list to do. It would be a great stress reliever for me too. Right now I need all of that I can get. It felt good to get over to the weight room with my husband and work out, ride the bike... I think if I hang out to much over there he will have me doing all kinds of stuff on that weight machine!! LOL!!

    16 weeks

    Emily & I got our charm for 16 weeks at Weight Watchers!!!! It is amazing how much changes in 16 weeks!! We have both lost 28 pounds!! I have about 15 more that I would like to lose, but David & Emily are telling me to stop, but I want to get down some more.  Emily has about 60 more pounds to go for were the doctor would like her to be.  I am really proud of her!! She has been for dedicated to learn how to eat differently and try new things! I think also making our menus and NOT eating out as much as really helped!! I am excited to see what the next 16 weeks will bring!

    Chili Taco Salad

    Tonight's Dinner! I found this recipe out of an old Pillsbury cookbook of mine.

    Chile Taco Salad!!
    1/2 cup Chunky Salsa
    1/2 cup Chili Sauce
    1 teaspoon cumin
    1 teaspoon chili powder
    1 lb EXTRA lean (at least 90%) ground beef------- You could use ground turkey also
    1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
    1 (11oz) can Mexicorn Whole Kernel Corn, Red peppers & Green peppers
    1 (10-oz) pkg (6cups) torn mixed salad greens
    1 medium tomato chopped (1/2 cup)
    1 cup small corn chips

    1. In a small bowl, combine salsa, chili sauce, cumin and chili powder, mix well. Set aside.

    2. In 12 inch skillet, break up ground beef; sprinkle with garlic salt. Cook over medium-high heat for 5 to 7 minutes or until beef or turkey is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently.  Drain

    3.Add corn and 1/4 cup of the salsa mixture: cook and stir 1 minute.

    4. On individual serving plates layer salad greens, beef or turkey mixture and tomato. Drizzle with some of the salsa mixture; sprinkle each serving with 1/4 cup chips.  Drizzle with remaining salsa mixture.

    I think I am going to add some fresh avocado to ours for added flavor.  I am going to use some frozen corn that I have from BBQ-ing and going to add the peppers to it!!!

    Menu:
    Chile Taco Salad
    Fresh Fruit

    Monday, July 25, 2011

    Menus!!

    As most of you all know that Emily & I have been doing Weight Watchers for the last 16 weeks.  Well, over the weekend I got this brain storm that I would get some of our favorite recipes and change them up so that we can eat them within our points!!! The other thing is that we had to try new recipes also.  So tonight we had out of the Weight Watcher cookbook a recipe called:
    Orange -Crumbed Baked Chicken
    2 tablespoons orange juice
    2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    3/4 cup whole wheat cracker crumbs
    1 tablespoon grated orange zest
    1 shallot finely chopped
    1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
    4 (3-Ounce) skinless boneless chicken thighs

    I used lemon zest instead of orange, that is what was in the cupboard!! I don't like thighs, so I used chicken breasts!  I put the crackers in a big ziplock bag and went to town on them with my rolling pin!!

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 F: spray a nonstick baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

    2. In a small bowl, combine the orange juice, mustard, and salt.  On a sheet of wax paper, combine the cracker crumbs, orange zest, shallot and pepper.  Brush the chicken on both sides with the mustard mixture, then dredge in the crumbs, firmly pressing the crumbs to coat both sides. Place the chicken on the baking sheet.  Baked 15 minutes; turn over and bake until cooked through, 15-20 minutes longer.
    Serves 4   Total of 4 points!!!
    I doubled it!!!!

    Tonight's menu!!
    Orange Crumbed Baked Chicken
    Green Salad
    Fresh Fruit~~~~ Whatever fruit that is available in the house
    Apple Sauce

    Sunday, July 24, 2011

    Family Time

















    This summer has been really busy for our family.  Jacob had his first college class and working! Emily has been a huge helper for me this summer watching Hannah and doing some odds and ends jobs an the Autism Center. Jacob and Emily also house sat for my aunt while they were on vacation. Emily spent a couple of days at Disneyland with my mom, aunts, and cousins.  From all the stories I hear they made lots of fun memories! David spent 12 days helping our best friends move from Houston, TX to Gainsville, VA. He spent some time with his family back east also. I have been very busy with work and trying to figure out the budget situation for us.  I have also been very busy trying to keep up with every one's schedules of comings and goings. We really didn't go anywhere big as a family this summer. We did lots of stuff locally, but we did manage to go to Pismo Beach for the day. I have always tried to teach our kids that family time is really important, but as they are getting older and they are developing their own schedules it is getting hard to squeeze in that time.  I cherish every minute I can get us together and do stuff as a family!! This summer has been really hard on me realizing that Jacob & Emily aren't little anymore they are going up to be adults and spreading their wings to fly!! It is exciting to watch what God is doing and going to do in their lives!! Here are a few pictures that Emily snapped while we were gone.

    Tuesday, July 12, 2011

    Pavement cruising

    Emily got this awesome photo of Hannah and I tonight. She wanted to ride on the longboard, so I held her next to me, and we cruised for a bit. She loved it!

    Gotta admit though, it was really hard to keep her on the board and keep us going at the same time.


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    Monday, July 11, 2011

    Chick-fil-A

    Our kids love this place! Tonight was buy any meal get free dessert! Jacob & Hannah enjoying cheesecake



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    Sunday, July 10, 2011

    Ice tea

    I LOVE McDonald's ice tea!!



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    Saturday, July 9, 2011

    Uncle David & Eliana

    Eliana has warmed up to her Uncle David!

    YouTube Video

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    Baby blankets

    First one down





    Second one



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    Katie!!

    I am amazed at this young lady who is 21 years old and living in Uganda to serve Jesus Christ!! She has the most beautiful heart!! She knows how to serve our Lord and Saviour!! She is the foster mother to 13 girls. She serves anyone who comes to her house in need!!  Please keep her in your prayers!!www.kissesforkatie.blogspot.com

    Jazmine

    Jacob's cat licks the water off the rock!! Her own fresh water fountain!!



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    Friday, July 8, 2011

    Best Friends


    David made it to Houston to help Jeff & Teresa to move to Virginia! Jeff & David are best of buddies!!


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    Sleepy Head

    She is so tired today! She slept the whole way down to the airport.


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    Thursday, July 7, 2011

    Forever a Family!!

    We had a nice evening for Hannah's Gotcha Day. I snapped a few photos of her and she even gave me some smiles! We had pizza from Papa John's and a chocolate cake for dessert!!
    Little Miss Bug Eyes!!

    Trying to give me a good smile!!

    Precious!!

    The Kids!!

    Growing up to fast!!

    Daddy, Hannah & Mama!!! Happy Gotcha Day!!

    Goofing off with Daddy!!

    I just love these kids!!!

    Yummy treat!!

    A new yummy treat I found at Sam's Club!!



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    Gotcha Day Cake

    Emily baked a cake for Hannah's Gotcha Day!!



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    Gotcha Day: Three Years Later



    Three years ago today the most precious, scared, sick and beautiful little girl entered our lives.  I can't believe it has been three years since we were in China.  I have had so much fun watching her grow up to be this little spit fire of a 4 year old.  I can't imagine what life would be like without her.  God has given us a precious child for us to raise to know HIM as her own someday.  I love listening to her sing songs from the top of her lungs about Jesus. I love her little brown eyes that look up at me daily asking a million and one questions about everything and anything.  I love her cute little button nose. I love the heart that she has for learning.  Hannah we love you so much!!! Happy Gotcha Day or Forever Family Day!!!
    Love,
    Daddy, Mama, Jacob & Emily

    Wednesday, July 6, 2011

    Request from Hannah

    Tomorrow nights dinner request from Hannah for Gotcha Day!! Cheese Pizza with Olives and Mac & Cheese!! That sounds interesting to me, but hey if the kid wants it let her have it right??? It is her day tomorrow... I will never forget the night that we got her she was so hungry and scared to death. One of the first things I fed her was olives off of a pizza from Papa John's! She also asked for a cake! I guess this mama needs to get a cake made. I think we even have a Papa John's in town too. Hannah just makes me smile!!
    Pizza Delivery in China!!
    Pizza anyone!!!

    Why Does Gossip Matter So Much!!

    “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” (2 Timothy 2:16)

    I was checking things on Facebook this morning and someone posted this from Devotions.com I thought this was really good so I wanted to blog about it. I have been trying to instill in our child the harm of gossip and this explains it so well. I think I will be visiting this web site more often.
    The devotion is below:

    I was in church recently when an old friend of mine came to visit. It was the strangest thing. My wife and I were just talking about him. He was out of work and we felt so sorry for him.

    As I watched him take his seat, I couldn’t help but wonder how he was handling his crisis. I not only heard about his misfortune, but I also had the not-so-rare pleasure to hear several conflicting accounts about what had happened. Frankly, I didn’t know what to believe.
    Maybe some of these “accounts” were wrong and it really wasn’t his entire fault. After all, I remember when I was in high school, my church once talked about how my dad frequently fell asleep during our pastor’s sermons. What they didn’t know was that he had recently been diagnosed with diabetes and would occasionally doze off because he had not yet learned how to balance his diet with his medication. Sadly, he stopped going to church for a long time until our family’s pastor finally told him, “You come back and feel free to sleep during my sermons anytime. At least your eyes are closed.”

    Paul Scott in The Day of the Scorpion wrote, “Ah, well, the truth is one thing, but in a way it’s the other thing, the gossip, that counts. It shows where peoples’ hearts lie.” Isn’t that the cold, hard truth?

    Gossip is a frequent topic in the Bible. Obviously God knows that it’s going to take awhile before his opinion about it sinks in. He’s right.

    Jesus’ half-brother, James, once wrote, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. (James 1:26) James understood the danger of gossip better than any of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus spent his entire life with James, so James probably knew Jesus better than anyone, including his own mother. He also knew that gossip helped to perpetuate the hatred and envy that destroyed his brother. I think that’s exactly why James devoted a portion of the Book of James to teach us about the nature of gossip. He saw firsthand what can happen when the flames of hatred are fanned by gossip. I think that’s why he said, “the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” (James 3:5)

    I guess what bothered me most about my friend’s visit was just as were singing praise choruses, someone turned around to me with a “Well-what-do-you-know” look on her face. I didn’t know what else to say except, “He lost his job, you know?” “I know,” she said. “That’s the best Christmas gift I ever got.”

    I was stunned by her comment. But I realized as I stood there that I was as much a part of the problem as she was. For all of us, James has something to say about that, too. “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.” (James 3:8)

    Tuesday, July 5, 2011

    White shirt!!

    It seems like every time Jacob scoops up ice cream he flips it on his WHITE t-shirt!


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    Camp out







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    Girls camp out tonight!

    Dessert







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    One of my favorite dessert!

    25 pounds

    Emily & I have been doing Weight Watchers since April. I am very proud of Emily!!! She has had so much determination to lose weight. I joke with her and call her my point police. She hit her 25 lb mark to day. Her total weight loss to date is 27.8 pounds. You rock kid!! I have loved being on this journey with you. Your are a beautiful young lady. I can't wait for us to get to our goal weight to get our new wardrobe!!! I love you Mama!!
    Emily holding a 25lb bag of pinto beans!!!

    Monday, July 4, 2011

    Happy Birthday America!

    We had a nice quite 4th of July!! I try to get pictures of the kids on the 4th. It is half way through the year and we usually can get some fun pictures. This year was rather hard to get a good shot. All three of them were goofing off. I did get a couple shots of them. I love it when they are all smiles. Hope everyone had a nice day!!! Happy Birthday America!!